Courses and Coaching
Beginners Courses
We run regular six week introductory courses for £99, including hire of equipment. All ages welcome, 18-80+! No previous experience required.
Beginner's classes are held on Mondays and Wednesdays. Please note that your lessons will be on consecutive Mondays or Wednesdays. It is not possible to switch between the two.
Please ring 020 8829 9947 if interested. You may also call 07906544927 or 02074043859 evenings and weekends.
Applying for a Course
To apply, print out, fill in and return the application form. Please enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope, a cheque payable to Swash and Buckle Fencing Club Ltd and your contact telephone number.
Places are allocated strictly in order of receipt of payment in full. You should not assume you have a place until you receive written confirmation, as numbers on each course are strictly limited. We regret we are unable to refund course fees in the event of cancellation unless we are given 7 days notice prior to the start of a course. We do not offer refunds after the course has begun. This is to enable us to keep costs down for the classes.
For more information and/or to book a course, please email us:
Requirements
No prior knowledge or experience is required. Members' ages range from 16 to 70+. All are welcome but the minimum age is 16. The course is designed to bring you from being a complete novice up to a standard where you can join in with general fencing at the club and take forward your training after that with club lessons, or individual coaching (if you wish). You should bring clothing in which you can move easily (e.g. T-shirt, tracksuit bottoms or leggings and trainers). We recommend you also bring some drinking water with you.
Equipment
The Club will provide a fencing mask, weapon, jacket and glove for the duration of the beginners class. If you prefer to purchase your own equipment, Leon Paul in Camden will offer you a discounted rate (see equipment), as will Duellists.
Times
Courses start at 7.00pm with a general warm up for the whole club, followed by the introductory course. General fencing for those not on the course runs from after the warm up until 9.15pm. We must have vacated the premises by 9.30pm.
Afterwards
After fencing, most club members congregate at a local pub - so you'll find it's a good way to socialise, as well as getting fit!
Advanced Coaching
Individual lessons are available for advanced fencers at a cost of £15.00 per half an hour for members. All lessons will be charged at this rate and must be booked and paid for in advance. Members always have priority for individual lessons. Enquiries for non-members for private lessons should be addressed to Jacqueline McLean on 020 7404 3859, and are charged at a higher rate.
Coaches
Head Coach - Jean-Christophe Guilbert
Ten times French Student Foil Champion, French National School of Fencing Teacher
Leo Suarez
Leo was Cuban National Team member.
Lajos Fazekas
Hungarian - pentathlon coach.
Founding Coach – Zsolt Vadaszffy (Retired Senior Coach)
Recently retired; Zsolt will to continue to visit the club on occasions to give private lessons.
Former Hungarian foil champion and British Professional Epee Champion, Zsolt has been at the club since it was founded. He was senior coach to the British under 20 team for 8 years (his pupil Justin Pitman was 3 times world finalist in foil). Zsolt is also personal coach to Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson.